The Idiots Guide to Reversing the Mag Catch on the FNP

[Bill_Rights]

I wasn't dreaming. Went and checked my FNP-45, and the mag release is ambi. I guess you guys are referring to FNP-9, FNP-40, etc. Sorry to butt in....

[ELLIOTT436]

Great write up

[124C41]

I am right handed, but my thumb is short and I had a hard time getting consistent magazine changes. After reading through this thread I thought I would try reversing the mag release and using the trigger finger for the task.

Great idea! Thanks for the idea and instructions making it an easy task.

[sixsfnp40]

Just FINALLY picked up my FNP 40.
Not real crazy about the stock mag release as a right hander, so I reversed it per your excellent instructions (thanks, and good job).

Man, Greeno69 said it best - the release may be ambi, but the mag sure ain't. Had to switch it back to stock on mine - in the swapped position the interference mentioned above (at least on mine) was intolerable as was the inconsistant release.
My thumbs aren't exactly short, but that release button's gonna get some modifying. I'll probably buy a spare and experiment with it, and let everybody know what I come up with.

[Spens168]

awesome post...great directions...i was putting the spring back in and it slipped out of the groove and shot somewhere in my room!!!! lol took me about 10 minutes to find it. i almost had a USELESS gun!!! but all's well. great directions....the thumb release was killing me!!

[Pvt.snoballz]

holy crap, what an odyssey that was.

having a curved flathead is a must....i was wrestling the damn thing for like 15 minutes. lol

ended up messing up a flathead and bending a paperclip, once the flathead was bent it was much easier

[AngerManagement]

Very cool directions thank you.

I shoot handguns lefty style. So far I've not had much difficulty dropping the mag using my middle finger, however, my thumb is quicker and doesnt require changing my grip twice.

I used a pair of needle nose pliers to bend a paperclip to press down on the bottom part of the spring and then used them to pull the spring out. only took a few seconds once I understood what was going on.

[ZX-10R]

This is a great fix...I prefer my mag release on the right. After hearing some people saying the mags stuck worse I was apprehensive. After doing it and realizing it was now comparable to my M&Ps reversed release I was ecstatic. WAY better than stock and all I had to do was follow these instructions. No lube, no Armorall, no filing, etc. Just reverse it per the instructions.

Thank you to the OP and picture poster for the help!

[Fimbulvetr]

Thanks to Evopsych for the detailed write up and KLEBRUN for the pictures. I substituted a hex flathead bit and pushed it in with my left index, took off the side of a binder clip and used that as my "Hook" as its a little more rigid than a paper clip. Swapped in less than 5 minutes.

I was having a hard time at my last handgun course with the mag release on the left and using my thumb, a world of difference on the right side now, positive contact and no more half depresses.

[bruno9751]

That is how I managed to change my release out. It was much more effective than the screwdrivers I had.